Yesterday was a historic day in the history of the middle-east. Like we all remember the good friday agreement so we should remember the day disengagement began in the gaza strip.
On my way back from Soul Survivor yesterday, i had much time to read reports of the withdrawal in various newspapers. What came across to me, perhaps for the first time, was position of the moderate Israeli. As a supporter of the Palestinian people, often i fall into the trap of seeing the people of Israel as ultra-conservative and narrow-minded in their quest to 'purify' Israel. Shimon Peres' brilliant letter to the Times particularly challenges this perception;
"Disengagement will not be the last phase of the political process with the Palestinians. It is an important first step. It demonstrates the moral decision we have taken not to turn our nation that escaped slavery in Ancient Egypt into a nation of masters in the Land of Israel. Disengagement reinforces the power of Israel’s moderates to make decisions, and exposes the true size and political power of the extreme Right. It proves Israel’s capacity for taking the initiative in correcting the mistakes it made in the past in building some of the settlements, and it opens the door to future steps towards peace. "
What fine words to greet this new day in the history of the Middle-East. Let's hope they continue and that Gaza becomes a safe and secure home for the Palestinian people!
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